This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

FLW’s Watford fan pundit Justin Beattie has claimed Emmanuel Dennis should feature for the club as long as he is a part of the squad. 

The Nigerian has been the subject of intense transfer speculation all summer.

With the club’s relegation to the Championship, the likes of Nottingham Forest and West Ham have been considering a move to bring him back to the Premier League. 

He was the Hornets’ standout player as the team fell to 19th in the top flight table last season, scoring 10 and assisting six goals for the side.

But with this transfer speculation, many have wondered whether he should be kept out of Rob Edwards’ team until his future is decided.

However, this Watford supporter believes that as long as he is registered with the club, he should be playing in the side.

“With regards to Emmanuel Dennis, yes he should be playing with us while he is still registered as a Watford player,” Beattie told Football League World.

“I don’t expect him to stay all season. I think he will probably be sold at some point.

“But let’s play him while he’s still ours.

“I expect him to be a bit of handful in the Championship cause on his day he is a very very good player.”

 

 

Watford kick-off their Championship campaign on Monday evening with a fixture against Sheffield United.

Both will be aiming to compete at the top of the table over the next 12 months, giving Edwards a tricky start to life as manager at Vicarage Road.

It remains to be seen whether Dennis will be included in the starting lineup, just days away from the season getting underway.

The Verdict

Dennis was easily one of the best players in the team last season so choosing to keep him out of the team would be a difficult choice to make.

But there is always going to be the slight concern that he could pick up an injury or a knock that could jeopardise a potential transfer.

Perhaps he may not be mentally prepared to take to the pitch for Watford given the uncertainty around his future.

He is obviously a top talent, and could prove to be one of the divisions best players, but competing under those circumstances can be tricky so taking a timeout on the bench may be the appropriate solution on Monday.